Anchor for check-row planters



(No Model.) A I 2 SheetsSheet 1.

J. 0. BARLOW. ANCHOR FOR CHECK ROW PLANTERS.

No. 367,582. Patented Aug. 2; 1887.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. 'J. O. BARLOW.

ANCHOR FOR CHECK ROW PLANTBRS. No. 367,582. Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

. TVj -w sses, Iva/anion N. PETERS. Phclo-Liihogrfphen Wnhinginn. D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JOSEPH O. BARLOW', OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

ANCHOR FOR CHECK-ROW PLANTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,582, dated August 2, 1887.

Application filed May 28, 1887. Serial No. 239.660. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrn. O. BARLOW, of Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Anchors for Check-Row Planters; and I do hereby declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingapart of this specitication, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon. 7

My present invention relates to certain improvements or modifications in structure, arrangement, and mode of operation of the au tomatic tension and extension anchor,patented to me October 27,1885, N 0. 329,255. According to the arrangement of parts illustrated in said prior patent, the tension and take-up mechanism was held from movement in a direction to release the extension-cord by a detent engaging a portion of said tension and take-up mechanism, and the release of the ex tension-cord was effected by the lateral movement and pressure of the cord upon the detent. The extensioncord being applied. to the tension and takeup mechanism, and the latter being held from movement by the detent, the whole strain on the check-row cord was borne by the tension and take-up mechanism, and as the planter approached the anchor and the tension on the check-row cord increased the detent became more firmly locked, so that it required considerable force to release it and permit the extension-cord to pay out.

The principal feature of my present invention,aside from improvements in the construction of the parts, consists, generally, in the employment of an independent retaining or holding device to which the check-row cord or wire is connected, said holding device being separate and distinct from the tension and take-up mechanism and so constructed and arranged that it will bear the strain on the check-row cord or wire when the planter is moving toward or from the anchor, and when the check-row cord or wire is deflected or drawn to one side it will be automatically re leased and the strain thrown or transferred to the tension and take-up mechanism with which the extension-cord is connected.

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, this invention can readily be applied and made available by the employment, in connection with any suitable tension and'take-up mechanism and acord, wire, rod, or equivalent connection with the check-row cord or wire, of any of the many forms of automatic holding and releasing devices or modifications thereof applied to the check-row cord or wire, and so arranged that by thelateral pressure of the check-row cord or wire the latter will be released from the holding device and the strain transferred to the extension-cord or equivalent conuection; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention in this particular to the specific arrangement and construction of devices hereinafter described, as said devices, while involving new features, as set forth in the claims, are intended to illustrate an application of the principle rather than to limit the scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment of my said invention, Figure 1 is a view in perspective, and Fig. 2 a plan view, of my improved anchor. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the holding device detached. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the ten sion and take-up mechanism, the parts being shown detached, but in position to be associated together.

Similar letters of reference in the several big ures indicate the same parts.

The automatic holding and releasing device shown consists of two sections, 1 2, pivoted together at 3 and provided with oppositely curved jaws 4, whose ends abut, forming an eye, 5. It is not essential, though preferable, that both jaws shouid be curved, as shown, as one might be more or less straight and the other curved or inclined, the object had in view being the formation of an eye with a movable section.

The rear end of section 1 of the holding device is pivotally secured to the base-plate or support A, while the rear end of the opposite section, 2, is provided with a notch or shoulder, 6, for co-operating with a stud or shoulder, 7, on the base A. A spring, 8, is arranged to bear against the section 2 in a direction to close its jaw against that of the opposite section, and at the same time press both sections over until the shoulder 6 on the section 2 bears against and is seated upon the stud 7 which latter is thus made to serve not only as a stop to limit the movement of the two sections, but also as a lock to prevent the opening of the eye 5 by the swinging of section 2 on 1.

As is well understood, the spring employed for this purpose may be of any suitable form and construction and may be applied on either side of the section 2; but for greater convenience I prefer to arrangeit as shown--th'at is to say, beneath the section 1, which latter is cut away or arched, as at 9, for its accommodation. Before describing the improved tension and take-up mechanism I will proceed to explain the operation of the holding device applied according to my present invention.

One end of the extension-cord D is provided with a hook, l0, and connected directly or indirectly to the check-row cord or wire 0,

' it being understood that said extension-cord is also 1 connected to a suitable tension and take-up mechanism of any approved construction-as, for example, the one herein shown, or that in my prior patent, (the detent being removed or swung back.) The baseplate or support A having been secured in position upon the ground, as by a pin driven through the eye 11 in rear of the holding de vice, and the cheek-row wire or cord stretched across the field, the hook 10, attached to the check-row cord or wire, is inserted in the eye 5, and the device is ready for operation. As the planter moves away from the anchor the sections 1 2 remain in the position in which they were swung by the spring 8-that is to say, with the shoulder 6 of section 2 bearing against stud 7 -whereby the two sections are prevented from moving the one upon the other and the eye 5 is held closed. The hook 10, attached to the check-row cord or wire, being held by the eye 5, no strain is or'ean be thrown upon the tension and takeup mechanism so long as the jaws 4 remain in contact and the eye is closed, and this continues so long as the shoulder 6 remains in contact with the stud 7. Vhen, however, the check-row cord or wire is drawn to one side-as upon the return of the planter-until the section 1 of the holder is swung on its pivot-and the shoulder 6 on the section 2 is removed from contact with the stud 7, the jaws will be held together by the spring 8 alone, and the pressure of the latter upon the section 2 being less than the tension on the check-row cord or wire, the section 2 will immediately yield to the pressure of the hook, thereby opening the eye 5 and permitting the hook to escape. If, no other restraining device were used, the check-row cord or wire would now be relieved from tension, especially that part in front of the approaching planter; hence the tension and take-up mechanism isimmediately brought into action to supply the amount of cord necessary to compen sate for thelateral position of the planter and at the same time maintain the requisite tension on the cheek-row cord or wire. This is accomplished by attaching the extension-cord connected to the tension and take-up mechanism either to the hook or to the check-row cord or wire, so that as the holding device is actuated to release the hook the strain or pull will be transferred or shifted from the holding device to the tension and take-up mechanism. By thus applying the automatic holding and releasing device to the check-row cord or wire, or, what would amount to the same thing, an extension-piece attached to the check-row cord or wire, or forming a prolongationof the extension-cord instead or" to the tension and takeup mechanism, not only can the lastnamed mechanism be varied in form and construction to suit the requirements of the case, but the extension-cord is entirely relieved. from the strain produced during the movement of the planter away from the anchor and only'brought into action upon the approach of the planter to maintain the tension and supply the extra amount of material for extending the checkrow cord or wire.

My improved tension and take-up mechanism as specially designed and adapted for use in connection with the improved form of holder described is constructed as follows:

The metal base-platc A of the holding device is formed or provided with a lateral extension, ]3, recessed beneath to receive and fit upon the end of a bar, 0, to which latter it is securely fastened by one or more bolts or equivalent fastenings. In the upper face of the extension B, near the junction of the latter with the base-plate A, is formed a shallow recess for the reception of the lower end of a pulley, 12, whose upper end is furnished with a flange or collar, 14. Above the pulley, and partially inclosing it, is a cap, 15, held in place by a bolt, 16, passing through and forming the axis of the pulley. The recess in the plate B and the collar 14 on the pulley serve as guides for the rope and prevent it from binding or becoming caught, while the cap serves to protect the pulley and prevent the entrance of sticks, straws, 820. At or near the extension B are formed three lugs or bearings, 17, for the reception of pulleys 18, mounted on a horizontal bolt, 19, passing through the lugs.

To the opposite end of the bar 0 is secured a frame, 20, provided with two vertical plates, 21 22, rising above the bar 0, one of said plates, 22, being preferably made separate from the frame 20 and secured thereto by dovetail joints 23 at the lower end. A bolt, 24:, passes through the plates 21 22, and between said plates a ratchet-wheel, 25, is supported upon the said bolt. An arm, 26, is pivotally supported upon a bearing, 24, outside of the frame 20, and a spring, 27, of rubber or other suitable material, is interposed between the end of said bearing and an adjustable clamping-nut, 28.

The arm 26 is provided with a shoulder cooperating with a stud, 29, on the frame 21, to limit the movement in one direction, and on its inner face is formed one or more (preferably two) sockets for the reception of pawls 30, which latter rest upon and engage the teeth of the ratchetwheel when the arm is moved in one direction and slip over said teeth when-the arm is moved in the opposite direction. The arm 26 also carries a pulley, 31, and is provided with an eye, 32, for the attachment of the extension cord or rope I), which latter is passed around one of the pul leys 18, back and around the pulley 31, thence under the remaining pulley, 1S, and around pulley 12, the end of the cord being secured to the hook 10, or to the check-row cord or wire, as desired.

The hook 10, which serves the double purpose of a detachable connection between the extension and check-row cord and between the latter and the holding device, is preferably constructed of a metal bar or wire, one end bent back to form a hook, 40, and the opposite end doublcd, with the loop turned up at an angle to form the hook 41, for engaging and holding firmly one of the knots or protuberant portions of the check-row cord or wire.

At a point between the hooks 40 41 the wire is bent or twisted, as shown, to form an eye,

42, standing substantially at right angles to the connecting portions 43 and parallel with the hook 41. in forming this eye 42 the wire is bent or twisted, so that the portion connected to hook 41 partially embraces and overlaps that connected to hook 40, and thus the eye 32 is prevented from being opened by the strain upon the hooks. A plate or bracket, 44, is attached to or formed upon the base plate A, said bracket being located beneath and projected in front of the holdingdevice and provided with a raised edge, 45, in which a notch, 46, is formed to receive the connecting portion 43 01' the hook. This notched plate serves as a guide for setting the anchor so that the hook will be released each time at the same distance by the planter as it approaches. Thus in setting the anchor it is first drawn back and pinned down, after which the bar G,is turned until the shank of the hook comes in line with the notch 46 or any equiva lentindicating device, so that the same amount of deflection will serve in each case to eifect the disengagement of the hook.

As before remarked, other equivalent inclicating devices which will serve to determine the proper angle or direction of the cheek-row cord or wire may be employed.

It is obvious that other forms of connecting hooks or appliances performing the same or equivalent functions might be employed, or that a separate connection might be made between the extension and check-row cords and between the latter and the holding device; but I prefer to employ a single connection for performing both offices, and have found the hook 10, constructed substantially as described, to be entirely satisfactory in practice.

The operation of the tension and takeup mechanism and its cooperation with the holding device shown is as follows: The extensioncord having been passed around the pulleys and one end secured to the eye 32 on arm 26 and the opposite end to the eye 42 of the hook 10, the hook end 40 is inserted in the eye of the holding device and the check-row cord placed between the parallel portions of hook 41, with the knot resting aboveor upon said parallel portions and engaging the vertical loop. As the planter approaches the anchor and draws the check-row cord or wire to one side to automatically withdraw or liberate the hook 10 from the holding device, the strain of the checkrow cord or wire is at once transferred to the extension-cord, which is held retracted by the swinging arm 26. The ratchet wheel or plate 25, with which the pawls carried by the arm 26 engage, is clamped and held between the plates 21 and 22 with more or less pressure by the bolt spring and nut or equivalent adjustable friction devices, so that the movement of said arm 26 in a direction to pay out the extension-cord is retracted uniformly by the frictional resistance opposing the rotation of-the friction-disk, and as this re sistance can readily be adjusted the extensioucord will be drawn off regularly and evenly as the planter approaches the end of the row, and at the same time the tension on the check-row cord or wire will be maintained. As compared with the tension and take-up mechanism of my prior patent, the swinging arm for controlling the movement ofthe extension-cord possesses several advantages, among which may be mentioned less liability to get out of order, more accurate and easier adjustment as to tension, and greater celerity in taking up slack and resetting anchor, these last-named operations being conveniently and quicklyperformed by grasping the arm -26 and raising or swinging it back, the pawls slipping over the ratchet-teeth and the extension-cord being drawn is upon the pulleys, The extension'cord is passed back and forth between the pulleys 18 on the frame and the pulley on the swinging arm to accommodate the desired length of cord without unduly increasing the size of the apparatus, as by this arrangement an arm of a given length will serve to control and pay out three times the length of cord that the same arm would accommodate were the cord passed directly from the arm and around a guidingpulley to the hook; It will be seen, therefore, that while the apparatus may, if desired, be employed without the pulleys for returning the cord, and the cord secured to the arm and passed directly to the hook, the more advantageous plan as increasing the capacity of the apparatus to control more cord is to use both the supplemental pulleys and return-loops.

Having thus described my invention, what T. claim as new is- 1. An anchor for a check-row cord or wire provided with a tension and take-up mechanism, an extension-cord, and an independent holder applied to the check-row cord or wire or an extension thereof, said holder securing the strain of the check-row cord or wire and being automatically disengaged by a lateral movement thereof, substantially as described. 2. An anchor for a check-row cord or wire provided with a combined holding and automatic releasing device to which the check-row cord is attached, and a tension and take-up mechanism, also connected to the check-row cord or wire, so that when the holder is released by the lateral movement of the check-row cord the strain will be transferred to the tension mechanism, substantially as described.

8. In an anchor such as described, the combination of a suitable tension mechanism connected directly to the check-row cord or wire, a holding device acting independently of the tension mechanism to sustain the cheek-row cord or wire, said holding device being provided with means for effecting the releaseof the check-row cord or wire when the latter is deflected to one side, substantially as described.

4. In an anchor such as described, the combination, with the check-row cord or wire, of a holding device therefor, consisting, essentially, of one section provided with a jaw movably secured to the base, a second section, also provided with a jaw and movably attached to the first section, and a locking device engaging the said second section to prevent the latter from moving upon the former until by the lateral pull on the cord both sections are moved away from the locking device to effect the release of the cord, substantially as described.

5. In an anchor such as described, the combination, with a hook attached to the cheekrow cord or wire, of a holding and automatic releasing device consisting of the two sections pivoted together and provided with cooperatingjaws forming an eye for the reception of the hook, one of said sections being pivotally attached to the base-plate, a stud mounted upon said baseplate and engaging one of the movable sections, and a spring operating upon said 'last-named section to hold it in engagement with the locking-stud, substantially as described.

6. A holding device for check-row cords or wires, consisting of a bedplateor base, A, a section, 1, pivoted to said base and provided with a jaw, 4, a section, 2, pivoted to section 1 and provided with a shoulder, 6, and jaw 4-, the two jaws cooperating to form an eye, 5, a stud, 7, mounted upon the bed-plate and cooperating with the shoulderG, and a spring, 8, engaging the section 2, as and. for the purpose set forth.

7. In combination with a tension and take up mechanism, an extension-cord, a holding and automatic releasing device, and a checkrow cord or wire, a hook detaehably applied to the check-row cord or wire and provided with devices for engaging the extension and holding devices, substantially as described.

8. The improved device herein described for connecting the check-row and extension cords and detachably securing the former to the holder, consisting, essentially, of the wire or red bent at one end to form a hook or eye, the opposite end being folded and theloop bent up and the intermediate portion bent or twisted to form an eye for the reception of the extensioncord, substantially as described.

9. In combination with the baseplate A and a holding and automatic releasing device mounted thereon, the bracket forming a rest for the hook 10, substantially as described.

10. A tension and take-up mechanism for check-row cords or wires, composed of a pivoted arm, a friction-disk to which said arm is connected, aguiding-pulley,and an extensioneorduttaehed at one end to said arm and at the other to the check-row cord or wire, substantially as described.

11. An improved tension and take-up mechanism for check-row cords or wires, consisting of a pivoted arm and a resistance device connected therewith, a pulley mounted on said arm,one or more pulleys mounted on the base, and an extension-cord passed back and forth around said pulleys, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a tension and take-up mechanism for check-row cords or wires, the combination, with the pivoted arm and its supporting-plate, the ratchet disk, the movable plate, the bolt, and tension-spring, of the pawl carried by the arm, the pulley mounted upon said arm, two pulleys mounted upon the base, and the extension-cord attached to the arm and carried back and forth around the pulleys, substantiall y as described.

13. In an anchor for check row cords or wires, the pivoted arm and tension devices mounted upon one end of a bar,and the holding and guiding devices upon the opposite end of said bar, substantially as described.

1 1. In an anchor for cheek-row cords or wires, the frame supporting the pivoted arm and friction devices rcmovably secured to a bar, and the holding device and guiding-pulleys for the extension-cord, mounted upon a single base, also detachably secured to said bar, substantially as described.

15. In combination with the extension-cord, the pivoted arm 26, carrying the pawls, a ratchet-wheel co-operating with said pawls and supported between two plates, a bolt for pressing said plates in contact with the ratchetwheel,and a spring for maintaining and regulating the frictional contactbetween the plates and ratchet-wheel, substantially as described.

16. In a tension andtake-up mechanism for check-row cords or wires such as described, and in combination with the extension-cord thereof, the flanged guiding-pulley mounted "in a recess in the bed-plate and provided with a cap, substantially as described.

JOSEPH O. BARLOV.

WVitnesses:

RICHARD M. SMITH, JNo. O. STILLWELT... 

